Situated in Central Europe, Austria is a small mountainous country. It lies at the center of European traffic between east and west and between north and south. Together with Switzerland it forms what has been described as the neutral core of Europe. The capital of Austria is Vienna. Geography - The village of Mitteldorf lies within the high mountain ranges of the Alps in western Austria.
Austria occupies the eastern end of the great mountain ranges of the Alps, extending about 340 miles (550 kilometers) from east to west. The country has an area of 32,378 square miles (83,859 square kilometers). It is bordered on the west by Switzerland and Liechtenstein, on the north by Germany and the Czech Republic, on the east by Slovakia and Hungary, and on the south by Italy and Slovenia. Some of the highest peaks of the Alps are in central and western Austria. Grossglockner is the highest peak at 12,460 feet (3,798 meters). The major lowland areas lie in the northern and eastern parts of Austria. The northern lowland is the valley of the Danube River. Vienna is at the eastern end of this lowland where the Danube River emerges from the mountains into the drier plains. Many rivers, including the Enns, Inn, and Drava, flow through the valleys of the Alps. They form several passes through the mountains. Brenner Pass is the most important pass as it connects Austria with Italy. The climate of Austria varies from east to west. Western Austria has greater rainfall and snowfall than does eastern Austria. The difference in temperatures in summer and winter is greater in the east. In the mountainous regions there is snow throughout the year at an altitude of 8,000 to 9,000 feet (2,400 to 2,700 meters). Plants and animalsAustria is the most densely forested nation in Central Europe. Woods and meadows cover two thirds of the total area. Leaf-bearing trees such as beech, birch, and oak are found in the warmer zones. Evergreen trees such as fir are found in the foothill regions, and larch and stone pine dominate the forests on the mountains. Wild animals, now protected by conservation laws, include brown bears, deer, hare, foxes, badgers, eagles, falcons, owls, cranes, swans, storks, and all large birds of prey such as the turkey vulture. Austrian rivers support a number of fish, including the river and rainbow trout, grayling, pike, perch, and carp. People and cultureGerman is the official language of Austria. More than 90 percent of the people are German-speaking. The small minority groups include Czechs, Croats, Slovenes, and Hungarians. The Roman Catholic religion is predominant in Austrian society. There are a few Protestants and Jews living mainly in Vienna. - Fürstenburg building with gilded copper roof (left background), Innsbruck, Austria.
Almost two thirds of Austria's population lives in cities and towns. Vienna is by far the largest city, but other important cities include Graz, Linz, Innsbruck, and Salzburg. Austria has been home to many great composers of the world. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, Johannes Brahms, Johann Strauss, and Gustav Mahler all either lived or worked there at some point. Austria has produced Nobel prizewinners in the fields of medicine, physics, chemistry, peace, and economics. Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, was an Austrian. Economy - Vineyards spread over hills along the Danube River in eastern Austria.
Because of its large mountainous region, only about half of Austria's total area is suitable for farming. The major grain crops are corn (maize), barley, wheat, and rye. Other important crops include potatoes and sugar beets. Orchards and vineyards are found mainly in the eastern part of the country. Austria has important natural resources such as lignite (brown coal), iron ore, lead, zinc, graphite, petroleum, and magnesite (used to make magnesium). Austria is one of the world's leading producer of natural magnesite. Tourism is a very profitable industry. The main attractions are the famous skiing resorts, the state theaters, and the musical, sports, and cultural events in Vienna and Salzburg. The country is also rich in scenic beauty. Austria has a highly developed transportation system of highways, passenger and freight trains, waterways, and air services. Austria has six airports; the largest one is at Schwechat, near Vienna. HistoryAustria has a long and varied history during which it was occupied by the Romans, Germans, Slavs, Hungarians, and others. The present nation was once part of a powerful empire that controlled a large area of Central and Eastern Europe. After the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, the country was reduced to just one eighth of its original size. It became bankrupt, and many people died of starvation in the severe winter of 1920–21. German leader Adolf Hitler invaded Austria and made it a part of Germany in 1938. Austria was divided into four zones in 1945 after Germany was defeated in World War II. Troops of the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union occupied each of these four zones. The occupying forces allowed Austria to set up a government with limited powers. In 1955 Austria was granted its independence after its political leaders pledged to keep the country neutral in foreign affairs. As a result, Austria is not a part of the political and military alliances that Europe developed after the war. Austria became a member of the United Nations in 1955 and of the Council of Europe in 1956. After a period of adjustment to independence, the country became stable, both politically and economically, in the 1970s. Population (2001 estimate), 8,069,000. |